Pippa Middleton makes a big impression on the set of Downton Abbey

Elizabeth McGovern, the star of Downton Abbey, says she was surprised to
discover Pippa Middleton on the set of the hit ITV drama.

Pippa Middleton has offered her support to the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy trustPhoto: CHRISTOPHER PLEDGER

Tim Walker. Edited by Richard Eden

7:28AM GMT 24 Dec 2011

In Downton Abbey, the Countess of Grantham has to compete with one of her maids for the affections of her husband, played by Hugh Bonneville. In real life, she has to hope that the actor is not distracted by the presence on set of Pippa Middleton.

“I became aware of our high-society fans when I was filming a scene and I looked over to Mrs Hughes, the housekeeper, and there was Pippa in my own home of Downton Abbey,” says Elizabeth McGovern, who plays the countess. “I couldn’t have been more thrilled.

“She looked lovely. I had a big chat with her mum, but didn’t get a chance to speak with Pippa herself.”

Mandrake disclosed in October that the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister and parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, had visited the set at Highclere Castle in Berkshire.

The Queen is finding it awfully difficult to attract gardeners. Earlier this month, she was forced to advertise for a Buckingham Palace gardener for the second time in three months, offering a higher salary. Now, the Royal Household is seeking a gardener for Windsor Castle. The starting salary, it says, is “dependent on experience”.

Accommodation is available for the successful candidate, who must “maintain and cultivate all lawns, edges, gullies, tree pits and flower beds to a very high standard”.

Police in the sun

News International’s cosy relationship with the Metropolitan Police, which is the subject of a criminal investigation, appears to extend to their festive parties.

This week, about 35 journalists from The Sun went for a jolly to Covent Garden, where they found themselves sharing a room at Henry’s bar with another large party. They got talking and the rival group disclosed that they were police officers from the Met's E-crime section celebrating the retirement of a colleague, Wayne Harkness.

“Oh, dear,” said one journalist. “We work for News International.”

The policeman laughed and disclosed that there there were 20 officers from Operation Weeting, the investigation into phone hacking, in the party.

Close quarters

The Duke of Marlborough celebrated his third wedding anniversary this month, but the duchess remains remarkably close to her former husband, Ratan Mahtani, the Indian tycoon.

In addition to being the chatelaine of Blenheim Palace, Lily, 53, who is the fourth wife of the 85-year-old duke, owns a townhouse in Belgravia. Mandrake hears that when Mahtani, 55, visits London, he stays at the property. He is understood to be selling his own house in the capital, in St John’s Wood, for around £20 million.

Thoughtful gift

David Willetts, the minister known as “Two Brains”, has been presented with a gift by Birmingham University. It is a glass head containing two brains which are interlinked and swing, charmingly, inside. It has pride of place in his office.

Stick to day job

Jeremy Vine appears to envy his brother Tim’s job as a comedian. The Radio 2 presenter says he saw two pensioners looking for their wives in a supermarket.

“The first man says, 'What does your wife look like?’ The second replies, 'She’s in her late 20s, blonde, very tall, wearing bright yellow, skimpy shorts and a T-shirt. I think she forgot to put a bra on this morning. What does your wife look like?’

The first man replies, “It doesn’t matter, let’s just look for yours.”